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WINTER 

Drawn by William Francis Evans 



FACTS AND FANCIES 



By WILLIAM FRANCIS EVANS 

AUTHOR OF "DEAR OLD HOME" 
AND OTHER POEMS 




NEW YORK 

STEWART AND COMPANY 

1914 



76 3 s^ 1 






Copyrighted 1914 

BY 

Stewart and Company 



MAY -2 1914 



EDITION LIMITED TO 

FIVE HUIvraRED COPIES^, 

OF WHICH THIS IS NO.J^ 



/ 



lY 



©CI.A3 6 9'920 



TABLE OF CONTENTS 

PAGE 

Introduction ix 

Childhood Days 1 1 

Hallowed Thoughts ii 

Night is Drawing Nigh 12 

Farewell To the Flowers 12 

At Close of Day 13 

Ambition 13 

Winter 14 

Approaching Night 14 

Life's Cross Roads 15 

Evening Star 15 

The Hand Divine 16 

Links 16 

Child of My Dream 17 

The Oak 17 

Savior Divine 18 

Welcome, Vernal Showers ! 18 

Be Wise 19 

Look To the Future 19 

Time 19 

Summer 20 

The Storm 20 

To "The Movies" 21 

Tempestuous Winds 21 

Birds in Storm 2.2 

Lamentation 22. 

Children At»Play 23 

Lines on a Broken Promise 24 

"Farewell" 24 

Children 25 

Youth 25 

Disappointment 26 

Music 2y 

That Mysterious Light 2y 

V 



Shine On, Little Star 28 

Dawn 28 

Beautiful Sun 29 

The Falls 29 

Flight of the Soul 29 

My Beautiful Wild wood Home 30 

When We Were Children 31 

Jack Frost 32 

Nature Slumbers Not 32 

A Winter Day Musing 32 

The End of Day 33 

Hallowe^en 33 

Rain 34 

The Faded Rose 34 

To THE Passed Year 35 

Veritas 35 

The Fan 35 

The Thrifty Farmer 36 

The Lovers Reunited 37 

Life's Bark 38 

Those Dreamy Eyes 38 

Finere Respice 38 

Spring 39 

Lightning 39 

Quickly Life Passes 40 

A Petition 40 

Harvest Time 41 

Thanksgiving 41 

Sweet Memory 42 

My Mother's Voice 43 

Time is Valuable 44 

Birds in Spring Time 44 

The Coming of Winter 45 

One Solemn Thought 45 

Willie's Plight 46 

I Dream of Thee 46 

vi 



Vanishing Daylight 47 

Christmas 47 

The Species 48 

The Good Housekeeper 48 

Frost on the Pumpkin 49 

Making Friends 49 

The Mind 50 

The Farmer's Lot 50 

Baby in His High Chair 51 

Little Snowflakes , 52 

Little Gray Mouse 53 

Rustic Scenes 54 

The Village School Beli 54 

The Little Mocking Bird 55 

Divorcing the Straw Hat 55 

The Busy Little Bee 56 

Autumn 56 

Restless Sea 56 

Be Good 57 

Little Rain Drop 57 

Winds 57 

Fame 58 

The Norsemen 58 

My Wish 59 

Light of Day Fade Not Away 59 

Twelfth Month 60 

Ring, Merry Bells, Ring On 60 

Consolation 61 

Be Kind To Mother. 61 

Sixteen-Sixty-Three 62 

Germs 62 

The Arrow 62 

Honor 63 

The Wind is Blowing 63 

Fleeting Day 64 

The Old Church Spire 64 

vii 



Small Things 65 

Memory Gems 65 

March 66 

April Showers 66 

Cement 66 

"Alpha" 66 

My Wish 67 

Beware (^y 

Duty (yj 

The Christian's Hope 67 

The Babbling Brook 68 

The Frolicsome Leaves 68 

October Days 69 

The Little Log Cabin 69 

Refreshing Dew 70 

The Lark 70 

Uncle Bob's Luck 71 

Willie's Excuse 71 

Thy Face — Beautiful "jt. 

Somewhere You Are "j^ 

When Rest Comes At Close of Day 73 

When Morn Meets Night 73 

The Haughty Flower 74 

Violets 74 

Elysian Field 75 

The Golden Flower 75 

Shadows 76 

Wintry Winds 76 

Admonition ^y 

The Soul y^j 

The Test yj 

Death 78 

Hope 78 

Sleep 78 

Parting 79 

You Will Remember Me 79 

Lamentation 80 

viii 



INTRODUCTION 
From Virginia, that proud old State, the 
"world has received much that was whole- 
some and good in the way of precept and 
practice. These lessons have been taught 
to be treasured up as heirlooms as the years 
go by. The Statesman, full of eloquence; 
the Patriot, full of charms; and the Poet, 
full of song, have arisen in bright succes- 
sion to win the admiration and praise of all 
people. There, in times of trial and of tears, 
the little acorn was planted from which 
sprang the great oak, now well rooted and 
strong, which we know and love as The 
Great Republic, whose arms defy the storm 
of battle in troublous times, and give shel- 
ter in times of peace to the down-trodden 
and oppressed. It is something to have 
been born in Virginia. The child may not 
know nor appreciate the favor when it looks 
out upon the world, but in later life, when 
one learns that the State stands as the rep- 
resentative of Honor, Fidelity, Perseve- 
rance, Love, and Patriotism, he will under- 
stand the nature of the gift and privilege. 
We have been turned aside from the 
Brownies that are ever near us, through 
summer's heat and winter's cold, to look 
over these verses and have something to say 
in the way of introduction, which we do 
ix 



cheerfully, as the tone is surely moral and 
uplifting, and they breathe of Home and the 
pleasant memories that cluster about it. 
The one who can not see something in such 
reading, for either youth or age, needs at- 
tention from more than the family physi- 
cian. The author, who is a native of Alex- 
andria, Virginia, and who has led an active 
life with both brush and pen, has evidently 
kept in mind the admonition of the mighty 
minstrel to the struggling aspirant, 

^^Foot and hand and knee he tries, 
Thus ambition's minions rise." 

The reader, before passing through the 
pages, may be convinced and pleased to 
know that the muse still waves her wing 
from the mountains of Old Virginia, even 
though no more, as we have been told, from 
the heights of Parnissus. 



Facts and Fancies 



CHILDHOOD DAYS * 

Happy days of childhood, 

Koaming o'er the lea, 
Gathering fern and wild flowers, 

Chasing bird and bee. 

From our early childhood, 
'Till the days of youth, 

We while away the moments. 
As children do, forsooth. 

Childhood days are over. 

Work now claims our thought. 

And as we grow older. 
Noble deeds are wrought. 



* Courtesy of "The Gateway Magazine." 



HALLOWED THOUGHTS 

If I had nothing else to do, 

But think and think of only you, 

I wouldn't want the night to come, 

For sleep would stop me thinking some. 
II 



NIGHT IS DEAWING NIGH 

Willows are grouped against the sky, 
The little thrush his song has closed, 
And swallows homeward fly. 
Night is drawing nigh ! 

The beetle and the butterfly 
Haunt the shady dell near by. 
Here and there a fire-fly 
Sallies forth against the sky. 
Night is drawing nigh ! 

Lowing cows and crowing cocks 
Have, once more, their noises stopped ; 
And horses from the day's toil, 
Are resting in their narrow stall. 
Night is drawing nigh ! 

Soon will the evening meal be fed, 
And all creatures retire to bed, 
For light of day, at last ! has fled. 
Silent night, — ^is nigh ! 



FAREWELL TO THE FLOWERS 

O, Little flower, so sweet and so fair ! 

Your fragrance floats on the chill air. 
Soon you will nod your head in sleep ; 

Winter's snow and ice, a blanket o'er 
you keep. 

12 



AT CLOSE OF DAY 

Day fades o'er the hills, 

And shadows creep among the rills ; 
Little golden butterflies 

Wing away to silent dells. 
A little brown thrush 

Sings a joyous lay, 
His tribute at close of day. 



AMBITION 

To life with sordid pleasure. 
Time surely brings its fate. 

Heed then the day of reckoning, 
Ere the verdict be too late. 

Attack time by the forelock. 

With it wrestle till "Day" breaks, 

And at dawn on the morrow, 
Eenew thy struggles 'gainst fate. 

In this world of human endeavor, 
Success seeks not the great. 

Ambition, crushed by disaster. 
Will ne'er be content with its fate. 

Fight on ! O soul, fight on ! 

On angelic wings arise. 
Soar o'er peak and mountains, 

Beyond the vaulted skies. 
13 



WINTER 

Winter is near with, its rain and snow, 
We hear Old Boreas wildly blow. 

All signs of summer have vanished to rest, 
All the sights we have loved the best. 

The feathered songsters seek their nest, 
And the sun sets early in the golden West. 



APPROACHING NIGHT 

Darkness soon will veil the evening sky. 
The lowing cows are homeward slowly 
come. 

The buzz of a belated bee is heard. 
Winging by with faint and whirring hum. 

The farm house, silhouetted 'gainst the sky. 
Slowly fades from sight in gathering 
gloom. 

The old bell calls the tired farm hands in. 
Pealing forth its usual evening tune. 

The shades of eve grow dark and darker 
still. 
As lights shine out above the distant hill, 
A welcome beacon of the rural roads. 

That cheers the tired farm hands with 
their loads. 



14 



LIFE'S CROSS ROADS 

When life's sun is setting, 
And the hair is turning gray, 
Let us forget not time is valuable. 
As our sires did in their day. 

Let us employ each fleeting minute, 
As time swiftly passes by. 
For we are nearing life's cross roads. 
My brother, — ^you and I. 



EVENING STAR 

She watched the glow of the evening star 
Beam forth its bright light from afar, 
Into the dark shades of the night. 
While she sat by a dim candlelight. 

Into her heart there came joy. 
As she watched the descending evening star. 
When she lay upon her bed that night. 
She murmured, ^'Mother! where art thou?'' 

Her thoughts to other realms soared. 
As above the horizon the starlight glowed. 
At last she fell asleep in peaceful bliss, 
Murmuring with her childish lips, '^Even- 
ing Star." 



THE HAND DIVINE 

God of the Universe, 

In Thee we trust ; 
Thou, most holy. 

Thou art just. 

Could we but view, 

Through this prison wall, 
Thy master hand, 

Thy all in all. 

Thou, the hope of man. 
May we see at last. 

And with Thee abide. 
When life's storm is past ! 

God of the Universe, 

In Thee we trust. 
Thou, most holy. 

Thou art just. 



LINKS 



Faith, — ever with me abide, 
Hope, — linger near my side. 

Charity, — thou art my pride. 
Faith, Hope and Charity; 

May all the world prize. 
And with me abide, 

'Till I reach the skies. 
i6 



CHILD OF MY DREAM 

Child of my dream 

From wliere did you come ! 
Robust and happy, 

Dear little one. 

Child of my dream, 
O ; do not fade away ! 

I wish you would 
With me ever stay. 



THE OAK 

You stately old oak, 

A score of years you have 

Graced the country road. 

Upon your sheltering branches, 

Birds of the air repose. 

In by-gone days. 

Children of the farm 
Sought thy shade, 

To jump their rope. 
Or play "Mumbly Peg." 

Long may you live. 

To shade the play-ground, 
Of the children who loiter 

In the shade of your branches. 
From the heat of a Summer's day ! 
17 



SAVIOR DIVINE 

Let us serve thee, 

Let us adore Thee, 
In days of our youth. 

When life's evening comes, 
We will know Thy Truth. 



WELCOME VERNAL SHOWERS ! 

Come, O Vernal Showers ! 

To our flowery bowers 
And kiss the lilies fair. 
The hot sun's descending, 
And flowers are bending 

In silent prayer. 
Come ! O Vernal Showers, 
With thy refreshing powers 

And visit our posies dear, 
Come ! ere the day is gone, 
O ! do not tarry long. 
Come, while daylight's here. 

O'er the distant hill top, 
Dark clouds are rushing. 
Hear the chilly winds blow ! 

Tall reeds and grasses 
Are waving to and fro. 
Rain's now falling, — 
As the clouds float by. 

The flowers are raising their heads. 
Toward the sky. 

i8 



BE WISE 

Each day that is idly spent, 

Brings a harvest of discontent. 
Loiter not your time away, 
And the future will doubly repay. 



LOOK TO THE FUTURE. 

Was thy pleasure yesterday, 

Mingled with fear 

And thy thoughts of bad deeds, 

A burden to thy mind? 

O why not live for the future. 

And not in the wrongful past. 

Look on the day that greets thee 

Redeem thyself, at last. 



TIME. 



Like the tides that ever flow, 
Years will come and years will go. 
How each minute seems to fly, 
As the days go drifting by ! 

Life is short, whatever we do. 
Then be honest, brave and true. 
Three score years and more by ten. 
Are seldom reached by many men. 
19 



SUMMER 

Flowers blooming, bees a-bumming, 
Birds a-flitting tbrougb tbe air ; 

Lovers wooing, pigeons cooing, 
Signs of Summer everywhere. 

Down the brook the frogs are croaking, 
And in pastures green and fair, 

Cows are lowing, softly lowing. 
Signs of Summer everywhere. 

Birds are singing, welkin's ringing, 
Lovers stroll, a happy pair; 

Twilight stealing, bells a-pealing, 
Signs of Summer everywhere. 



THE STORM 

Oh, terrible storm, your fury has rent 
Havoc and suffering among the tents ! 

Cleansed atmosphere you leave in your 
wake, 
As you pass over village, river and lake. 

Birds of the air your terrors know. 

And fly to shelter whenever your furious 
winds blow. 

Oh, terrible storm, whither are you bound? 
To what far off city, village or town? 



20 



TO "THE MOVIES" 

Oh, come and go 

To a picture show, 
Where laughter and joy 

Forever flow ! 
Where young and old 

Meet together 
Love and lovers, 

Greet each other 
Oh, come go \N4th me, 

To a picture show, 
Where laughter and joy 

Forever flow ! 



TEMPESTUOUS WINDS 

Oh, Stormy Winds ! 

Why around my window play? 
The night is dark, 

There is no sign of day. 

Oh, Stormy Winds, 

What weird noise you make ! 
The hour draws nigh ; 

When will the morning break? 

Oh, Stormy Winds ! 

Why tarry around my pane? 
Come ! Thou light of day. 

And bring me peace again ! 

21 



BIRDS m STORM 

Oh ; what will become of the little birds ! 
The approaching storm in the distance is 

heard. 
They will stretch forth their little wings 
And fly safely away, from the furious 

winds. 

After the storm, when the air is serene, 
The little songsters will again be seen ; 
And their sweet song, we love to hear, 
Will like a lullaby allay our fear. 



LAMENTATION » 

What a welcome zephyr, Nell, 
From across the fields of corn! 

The end of a vacation day ; 
It makes me feel forlorn. 

Another day is added 

To the fleeting week; 
Sadness steals o'er me 

When I think of our city streets. 

And when the time comes to leave. 

Oh, my ! but won't I grieve. 
A week on a farm, with large green fields, 

Is worth a hundred city meals. 



* Courtesy of "The Washington Times." 
22 



CHILDKEN AT PLAY 

On a bright summer's day, 

See the children happy at play, 

Kunning, jumping and skipping about, 
They are so happy they try to shout. 

As they toss their ball to and fro, 

You hear the noise as these urchins roar. 

Happy is this youthful group at play. 
And not a care their faces display. 

Bess tosses the ball to Dick, 

Harry tries to hit it with his stick ; 

And throughout the summer's day. 
Laughter and noise are mingled with play. 

These children in gymnastics are trained 
To possess healthy bodies and fertile 
brain. 

Charley is felled by the ball, but is up again ; 
ISTothing stops him, sun, wind, or rain. 

Vacation time for them has come. 

And when their morning work is done, 

They gather on the play-ground to play, 
Until darkness ends the day. 

Then home they go with fingers sore. 
And with face and hands tanned. 

Their clothes once white as snow. 
Dirty as a furnace man. 



23 



li:n^es on a beoken peomise 

oil ! why not by your promise die? 

Wliy deny your word, as months go by? 
Make one a promise and then decline, 

Is a grave mistake of heart and of mind. 

Win the heart, — ^break it, at your will, 
Leave an aching void, you should fill. 

Make one a promise and then decline, 
Is a grave mistake of heart and of mind. 

Some day, you'll reap this seed you have 
sown. 

Misfortune, then, will claim you her own, 
And it will be your time to wonder why 

Blessings from God forever pass you by. 
Give one your word and then decline. 

Is a grave mistake of heart and of mind. 



"FAEEWELL'' 

At last, we must bid farewell. 

And you depart forever from this sphere. 
You go to dwell in that immortal clime, 
Where happiness will ever be thine. 
Sorrow and weeping are never known 
In that haven where Our Father welcomes 
his own. 
When no longer I exist I hope to join you. 
Farewell." 

24 



CHILDRE:^r 

I sat at my window on a bleak November 
day, 
Watching school children homeward wend 
their way. 
Damp was the atmosphere, chilly was the 
day, 
But happy were the children as homeward 
bound they'd stray. 
Children, blithe and free, happy may they 
ever be ! 
Onward they went their way, that cold 
and chilly November day. 



YOUTH 

Oh, for the early days of my youth. 

Free from cares and the burdens of life ! 
Oh, carry me back to the days of my youth, 
When all was pleasure and happiness, 
proof ! 
At evening, before the open hearth. 

We would watch the glow from the fire 
enshroud us: 
And with books, slate and pencil. 

Work out the old school teacher's ex- 
amples. 
Oh, carry me back to the days of my youth, 
When all was pleasure and happiness 
proof ! 

25 



DISAPPOi:NrTMENT 

Aunt Julia Ann has a little girl ; 

They say she's double jointed. 
Aunt Julia says she loves her child, 

But hates to be disappointed. 

Jack called to see Dorothy White, 

To the city she had jaunted. 
How sorry said Jack, I feel. 

To be disappointed. 

One day, Frank climbed a large oak tree. 
To rob a nest in which he thought birds 
would be. 
The nest contained to his surprise two 
spiders of large size, 
And Frank began to cry, for he was 
disappointed. 

Johnny George, one day he fished ; — 

To go a-fishing he long had wished. 
He fished all day, to his dismay, and didn't 
catch a fish. 
Johnny said it was pleasure that he 
wanted. 
And at fishing he was disappointed. 

A broker once to his patrons said. 

My stock pays dividends every day. 
Very soon, it is told, the broker was dead — 
( broke ) 
And his patrons were sadly disappointed. 
26 



Some men are so happy wlieii they wed, 
Misfortune does not daunt them. 

When they are married two days, 
Their wives are disappointed. 

After all, this disappointed state 

Follows the poor, the rich and the great. 

So take my advice don't stay up late. 
To worry over your past troubles or fate. 

For you surely will be soon or later disap- 
pointed. 



MUSIC 



Hark ! hark ! sweet music fills the air. 

The ladened zephyrs waft the sound afar. 
Joy to Apollo! 

Listen to the music of the Easter anthem 
fair! 
Hark ! hark ! sweet music fills the air. 



THAT MYSTERIOUS LIGHT 

I saw a light shine from afar, 

With brilliant glow like the evening star. 
At its flickering rays, my eyes gazed 

On that tranquil night in May ; 
To find it, at times, my life I would risk, 

At last, I found it was Will-O'-The-Wisp. 
27 



SBINE ON, LITTLE STAE. 

Shine on, shine on, little star ! 
Many miles from earth you are. 
We can see your tiny light, 
As you shine on this dark night. 

Shine on, till dawn of day 
Hides you in the sky away. 
At eve, with your tiny light. 
Shine on through the coming night. 



DAWN 



The morning star has disappeared beyond 
the Western horizon. 
And the dark shades of night 
Are blending with the light gray, in the 
Eastern sky. 
A faint chirp of nestled birds is heard, 
And in the deathlike quietness the echo of a 
crowing cock. 

The insects are still and frogs have ceased 

their croaking near the rill. 
Flowers are silently unfurling their leaves, 
The Lilies are nodding in the early morn- 
ing breeze. 
And as the sun slowly ascends in the East, 
Nature begins to stir, — ^with man and 
beast. 



28 



BEAUTIFUL SUN 

Beautiful sun of decadent day, 
Shedding forth your brilliant rays, 

Cheering us, from mom till night, 
Shine, ever shine, into our life. 



THE FALLS 

Your ever rushing torrents 
Gleefully sing Neptune's song. 

Through day and night, your cataracts flow, 
And gleefully sing as onward they go. 

Forever flow o'er crag and rocky shore, 
'Till man and space shall be no more. 



FLIGHT OF THE SOUL 

Rejoice to be free, 

Oh Soul at liberty! 
From out thy casement 

Fly through boundless 
Realm, — beyond the ethereal sky. 

To that land of endless day. 

And at thy Father's Bar, 
Appear to receive thy reward, 

And may it be, — thy freedom gained, 
Happiness in other spheres awaits thee. 
29 



MY BEAUTIFUL WILD WOOD HOME 

Beyond heavy foliage, where large trees 
grow, 

Lies my beautiful wildwood home. 
About the large wooded place, 

Wild beasts are wont to roam. 

Throughout the day, children play 
On the porch of my wildwood home. 

Beyond fields on the mountain's side, 
Wild beasts do ever roam. 

As you gaze to the westward. 

Over fields covered with sheep. 
You can see over the top of the forest, 

A lofty mountain peak. 

The turbulent waters of a muddy branch. 
Its noise you hear when far from the 
ranch. 
The blowing of horns by the foreman of the 
farm, 
Calls the cattle from the fields to the barn. 

Of the many great cities I have seen. 
My home is the ideal of my dream. 

And when far away, I long for the scenes, 
of 
My beautiful wildwood home. 



30 



WHEN WE WERE CHILDREN 

When we were cMldren, we used to roam 
Over fields where wild flowers grew. 

With, small baskets we would stroll along, 
While some would sing a familiar song. 

Happy urchins were this group, who used 
to play- 
Over the large fields throughout the day, 
Leaping, jumping or hiding in the tall 
grass. 
From uncle Ned, or our pet dog Trask. 

And when mother called us, or rang the old 
bell. 
What fun we would have running, jump- 
ing and falling about. 
Each child trying to be the first one out of 
the field. 
To reach the house, to get the midday 
meal. 

Those days are past and gone forever. 
And other children to-day on those old 
fields play. 
They run, skip and jump like the children 
of our day. 
Time may change us, but love for those 
fields will never fade away. 



31 



JACK FROST 

Jack Frost is never lost, 

For work fall nigMs to do. 
He takes Ms pot of frosty dots, 

And veils the autumn night in white. 



NATURE SLUMBERS NOT. 

When it's snowing, and it's blowing; 

When earth is covered with sleet ; 
Little plants begin their growing. 

Far beneath our feet. 



A WINTER DAY MUSING. 

Weird tunes the winds are singing. 

Sleigh bells are ringing ; 
Cold Winter days are fleeting away. 

These North Winds make me shiver, 
As I walk by the river. 

And see the trees to and fro sway. 

I'm thinking of last night's dream 
. Of a pleasant Summer scene. 
While Winter's at its height galore. 

When the Spring months come again. 
And change the barren plain, 

I'll sigh for cold Winter days no more. 
32 



THE END OF DAY. 

Evening shades are falling 
O'er hill and leafy plain. 
Birds are now returning 
To their nest again. 

The little silvery brook, 
Down in the mossy glades, 
Is running, swiftly running, 
While daylight softly fades. 

From golden skies afar. 
Brightly beams the evening star. 
See those glowing colors fade ! 
Farewell for aye, Oh day decayed ! 



HALLOWE'EN * 

Vine and gardens bare. 
Yellow pumpkins at us stare. 
We'll cut 'em in twain. 
For Hallowe'en is here again. 

In the silent, starless night. 
Through winding paths and lanes. 
You hear noise and laughter 
Of the ghostly looking swains. 

They're the village lads and lassies, 
Hurrah ! Hallowe'en is here again. 



* Courtesy of "The Washington Times.' 

33 



RAIN 

Rain, rain, driving rain ; 

Hear it whip the window pane ! 
As the day fades o'er the moor, 

Hear the rain fall, swift and sure ! 
In the green and shady dell. 

Lowly lay the sweet Harebell. 
Birds and beetle gone to rest. 

And the sun sunk in the West. 
Rain, rain, driving rain ; 

Hear it whip the window pane ! 



THE FADED ROSE. 

Why droop your drowsy head? 

Why not to the flowery bed? 

The grasses still are green, 

Tho' Autumn tints fast change the scene. 

Sigh not for the days gone by. 

When, 'neath the azure sky. 

You bloomed forth in full array. 

The days, now cold and gray. 

Speed with you on your way. 

Sigh not, for the days gone by. 

Or for thy colors once bright. 

Pass on. With the season, pass ; 

And when spring comes again. 

Bloom forth with the trees and grass. 



34 



TO THE PASSED YEAR 

bitter year, you're past beyond recall ! 
My sad heart no longer with, tbee abides. 

1 speed on wings of time, on and on, 
Till my soul shall at last find rest. 



VERITAS 

Honor follows thee, O truth ! 

From days of our youth, you are scored. 
Folks like to tell the other thing 

That makes this life a life of sin ; 
While you they hastily pass — 

And to a lie cling to the last. 
Let us adore thee, O Veritas ! 



THE FA]Sr * 

In the sun he can ever stand. 
To watch the game he thinks grand ; 
At his home he's never seen, 
Washing windows or staining screens. 

His poor wife does the work he dislikes, 
While he to each game daily hikes ; 
First one in the bleachers, this married man, 
He's known about town as a ^^fan." 



* Courtesy of "The Washington Times. 

35 



THE THRIFTY FARMER 

The thrifty farmer, 
Man of the fields, 
Mother earth for you, 
A harvest yields. 

You raise cattle. 
And till your soil. 
From morn' to night, 
You ever toil. 

Folks in the city, 

They live at ease. 
Think not of the farmer 

Who strives to please. 

Your vegetables and fruits, 
Your hay and wood. 

You haul to the city. 
Must ever be good. 

Your chickens and hogs. 
Your beef and lamb. 

To scrutinizing buyers. 
Your price must command. 

This is the life, 

Of a hard worked folk. 
The thrifty farmer, 

He earns his "dough.'' 



tev. 36 



THE LOVEES EEUNITED 

(In Alplial>etical Form) 

After you, Geneva, 

Best girl I know. 

Cannot do without you, 

Do love you so. 

Ever thine, 

Forever believe me true. 

Graceful Geneva. 

Homeward we go, 

^^Into the parlor come?" — 

Joy has just begun, 

^^Kiss me deary?'' 

Love, I longed for you, 

Missed you greatly. 

Kever to stray again. 

O ! love, let us be happy. 

Past troubles forget, 

Quicker the better. 

Right here, let us join hands. 

Silent in prayer, 

True lovers again. 

United together. 

Vouch for each other? "Yes," 

We will keep our pledge. 

X lovers, No more. 

"You are my own," 

"Zack ! call up the Parson." 



37 . M 



LIFE'S BARK 

'Mid times of sorrow, 'mid times of joy, 
We sail our bark o'er life's briny deep. 

Our sMp gladly barbors from tbe gale, 
Wben we are anchored in peaceful sleep. 



THOSE DREAMY EYES 

When I recall those dreamy eyes, 

I wish to thee that I could fly. 
Those eyes that wealth could nevet buy ; 

Those dark brown eyes; those teasing 
eyes ; 
May they forever sin despise. 

When I recall those dreamy eyes, 
I wish to thee that I could fly. 



FINERE RESPICE. 

Had they obeyed the Master's trust, 
We would not have to turn to dust. 
Like flowers that bloom in early spring ; 
Bloom, decay and bloom again. 

Ungrateful mortals were they. 
To live and love and disobey 
The mandate from The Master Hand, 
Hence, we must die, to live again. 
38 



SPRING * 

The Hyacinth, and Jonquils 

Tell us Spring is here. 
Cold Winter days have gone their ways, 

Mornings cool and clear. 
Robins flit from tree to tree, 

Softly sounds the bird and bee. 
Early signs that now appear 

Tell us all that Spring is here. 



* Courtesy of the "Burlington Free Press.' 



LIGHTNING 

Lightning's nimble dart 

Plays many a 
Prank o'er head. 

The sky, once dark gray. 
Is now carmine red. 

The noble eagle 

Has kissed the clouds, 
And nestled in his nest. 

Glow of descending sun 
Shows old gold in the west. 

As lightning flashes 

Above distant hills. 
We see water swiftly flow 

Through glade and rill. 
The storm has passed, the air is still. 
39 



QUICKLY LIFE PASSES 

Little Happiness, 
A little pain, 
Little sunlight. 
Followed by rain; — 
Ever toiling. 

By day or night. 
Battling against 
Worldly strife, 
Illness, death; — 
The end of life. 



A PETITION 

At close of day, 

Let us repent. 
As we pray. 

To "Our Father" 
Who art above, 

For His goodness. 
For his love. 

That when dawns 

The morning fair, 
Our souls from 

Burdens He will spare. 
That through the day. 

Our feet may trod 
The way that leads 

Us to "Our God." 
40 



HAKVEST TIME 

Leaves are bright, 
Grain is ripe, 
Vines with, grapes laden, 
The day is short. 
And night is long. 
Farmers are singing 
Their harvest song. 



THANKSGIVIISTG 

Thanksgiving is here ! 
Be of good cheer, 
It is the Thankful Day, 
When we should pray. 

Praise the God above 
For his light and love. 
And bounteous harvest 
Of the past year ; 

For our life and home, 
And our health so dear. 
It is the Thankful Day, 
And we should pray. 

Let Thankful Prayers ascend 
To Him, who's our true friend. 
In hamlet, vale and town. 
May Thanksgiving be found. 
41 



SWEET MEMORY 

Sweet Memory, how I long for thee ! 

Memory to recall days gone by, 
For memory, I can only sigh. 

Sweet Memory, Oh, how I long for thee ! 

Memory of dear friends, who with me 
played. 
Memory of the days, when at the old home 
I stayed. 
Memory of my best days, the village school 
days. 
Sweet Memory, Oh, how I long for thee ! 

Memory of my mother's favorite hymn she 
used to sing; 
Memory of her last words on earth she 
said to me. 
Sweet memories of the past, — 

Oh, how I long for thee, Sweet Memory, 
Sweet Memory! 

Sweet Memory, I cannot call thee back, 

For you I can only sigh. 
Sweet Memory, Oh, how I long for thee ! 

Never to me to return again, Sweet 
Memory ! 



Happiness cannot be bought, sold, or 
exchanged ; it must be pursued. 
42 



MY MOTHER'S VOICE 

Hark, mother's voice I hear ! 

Soothing it is to my ear. 
I have been a naughty child, 

But she greets me with a smile. 

My mother's voice, I cannot forget, 
Though she whips me and I fret. 

I am bad, my mother knows. 
It is why she scolds me so. 

Hark, mother's voice I hear ! 

I love you mother, mother dear. 
I have been a naughty child. 

But she greets me with a smile. 

Taking jam from the shelf. 

Crying all day for wealth, (a penny) 
Acting naughty at dinner time. 

Pouting, fussing and trying to whine. 

I have been a naughty child. 
But she greets me with a smile, 

Hark, a gentle voice I hear I 

It is my mother's ; I need not fear. 



ENCOURAGEMENT 

Encouragement though rarely given, 
Is appreciated by men and women. 
43 



TIME IS VALUABLE 

Wlien the day^s sun is shining, 
And the night far distant seems, 

Do not think of yesterday, 

Or barter with midday dreams. 

Employ the present minutes, 
Before they forever pass by, 

For the morrow may find you 
Beyond the view of human eye. 



BIRDS IN SPRmG TIME 

O ! hear the songs 

The little birds sing, 
On swaying boughs, 

In early Spring. 

When buttercups are budding 
And daisies deck the sod, 

Hear the early songsters singing, 
In the trees, on swaying boughs. 

As harbingers of Spring Time, 
They act their humble parts. 

In this scene of Life's drama. 
Giving cheer to weary hearts. 



44 



THE COMING OF WINTER 

Winter is coming o'er the hill. 

Insect and beetle now are still. 
Pastures, once bedecked with grass, 

Are withering from the wintry blast. 

The harvest from the fields, 

Is stored in loft and bin. 
And the old mill near the lane, 

Is busily grinding grain. 

As the day goes swiftly by, 

You hear echoes from farmer's ax. 

They're cutting cordwood. 
To keep fire within our flat. 



ONE SOLEMN THOUGHT! 

When Death's cold hand shall grip 
This mortal frame of clay, 

What will be my thoughts. 
On that Judgment day ! 

Stay, I cannot. — Go, I must, 
Thus I will hope and ever trust. 

That through His death, I shall rise 
And live in realms beyond the skies. 



45 



WILLIE'S PLIGHT 

The heavy drops of rain 

Nearly broke my window pane. 

To the cover, I surely did hug, 

And thought how snug 

I was in my trundle bed. 

To sleep I went. The rain fell, 

I dreamed of good things, money to spend. 

At last I awakened to find my dream 

Had vanished with the passing scene. 



I DEEAM OF THEE 

I dream of thee, I dream of thee. 
Oh, when shall I again thy face see ! 

In my visions in the night. 
Thy face I see, in rays of light. 

Years may come and years may go. 
Thy form on earth 111 see no more. 

I dream of thee, I dream of thee. 

Oh, when shall I again thy face see ! 

Life, to me now is void 

Of earthly pleasures once enjoyed. 
Oh, how happy I will be. 

When at last, thy face I again see ! 



46 



VANISHING DAY LIGHT 

Softly tlie light of day fades away, 

O'er valley and distant bay. 
Soon the shades of night will fall, 

O'er flowers and moss covered wall. 

Fowls of the air are gone to rest. 

The sun's fast descending in the West. 

Toil and cares of day are gone forever, 
And around us dark shades gather. 

Oh, golden light of vanishing day. 

We wish you could with us forever stay. 

May we ever enjoy thy beautiful light. 
As we toil through the fleeting days of life. 



CHRISTMAS 

Christmas joy and Christmas cheer 

Relieve the care of the fleeting year, 
Santa Claus, — that good old elf. 

He makes you happy, in spite of yourself. 
You see the merry children go 

From house to house and to and fro. 
Their toys, they're eager to show. 

Surely a fitting time for praise, 
Christmas, — the Day of Days. 



47 



THE SPECIES * 

Said a grasshopper — hopping 

To a frog on a rail, 
^'The female of the species, 

Is more deadly than the male." 

Said the frog to the hopper, 
Leaping fast as he could, 

"The male of the species, 
To me always looks good." 



* Courtesy of "The Caldron." 



THE GOOD HOUSEKEEPER 

The good housekeeper 
Lives not at ease. 
She's striving all the time, 
Her household to please. 

Her work seems easy. 
To the fault finding guy ; 
That her duties are arduous, 
No sane person can deny. 

She's a rare jewel 
That's hard to find- 
Let us adore her, 
Now and all time. 



48 



FROST ON THE PUMPKIN 

When frost is on the pumpkin, 
You hear the weird noise 
Of the village men and boys, 
As they file through the lane. 

Men gunning, rabbits running, 
Jolly lads and lasses 
Knock persimmons off the trees. 
Chips like flakes a-flying. 
Echoes, through the forest dying, 
As the sturdy woodman 
Fells the leafless trees. 

When frost is on the pumpkin, 
Farmers go a-hunting, 
And you hear the weird noise. 
Of the village men and boys. 
For they are from care, — free. 



MAKING FRIENDS 

Be good, be gentle, be kind, 
If you would true friends find. 
They may cheer you, day by day. 
When you're about to go astray. 
Why be grouchy, why whine. 
Die, and leave no friends behind? 



49 



THE MIND 

0, Mind at ease, 

You conceive mischief 
When you please. 

Control my body, 
While I repose. 

Where you roam, 

1, alone, know. 



THE FARMER^S LOT 

Silvery clouds 

Were floating 

In the summer sky. 

Noonday fast approaching, 

The sun was high. 

Birds were nestling 

In leafy trees, 

From the heat 

Of the melting sun. 

The farmer in the 

Large green fields. 

Day's work was half done. 

I sat in the shade, 

In amazement thought 

Of the farmer's lot. 

In the winter he is idle ; 

He must work 

When the days are hot. 

50 



BABY m HIS HIGH CHAIR 

Little baby, how his large eyes glare ! 

Securely strapped in his high chair, 
His rattle and rubber doll 

To the floor he's let fall. 

Mother does not hear him cry, 
From the sewing room near by, 

The sewing machine she makes fly. 
While little baby sits and cries. 

Soon, sister May home will come, 
From the baker's with sweet buns, 

His wailing then will cease, 
For sweet buns, he loves to eat. 

Mother soon her sewing will stop. 
For dinner time is drawing nigh, 

When she comes into the room. 
He will change his peaceful tune. 

And if not forwith taken. 

Will cry, as if his heart's breaking. 
But when mother says "come sweet !" 

He will cease crying and try to speak. 

This is the little man of our house. 
Who is nice and quiet as a mouse, 

(When at rest in Mother's lap) , 
And mother thinks he's great, — this 
noisy brat. 



51 



LITTLE SKOW FLAKES 

See! little snow flakes 

From tlie clouds fall, 
Hiding my playhouse, 

My flowers, my ball. 

The landscape is covered, 

In the dreary night. 
Grass, yesterday green. 

Is bedecked in white. 

Tree tops and church spires 

In the village. 
Across the bay. 

Like beacons shine 

Against the sky to-day. 

And little snow birds, 
Beneath my windows fly, 

See ! the birds play, 

In the snow, cold and dry. 

Very soon with my sled. 
Outdoors 1 will go, 

To play in the beautiful snow. 



If my path were all roses. 
My work one sweet lay. 
To you, I would gladly bring 
Koses each passing day. 

52 



LITTLE GRAY MOUSE 

You little gray mouse, 

Always stealing 'bout the house, 
Just as quiet as you can be, 

Slyly peeping now at me, 

While Miss Tabby, our old cat, 

Lies asleep upon the mat. 
Come on, Charley, bring your stick. 

Hurry! Hurry! Run here, quick. 

Ah ! there he goes into his hole. 

Wish I had a big long pole. 
Never mind, soon well try 

To catch him, though he's very sly. 

I will set our new mouse trap, 
This little rogue to catch so fat. 

I'll set it near this hole you see. 
And quiet we all must try to be. 

If he comes near to this place. 
The trap will end this daily race. 

What care we if old Tabby sleeps I 

We'll catch him, then she'll have a feast. 



These fragrant flowers, I send thee from 
afar, 
A token of esteem for you, my ^^star." 



53 



EUSTIC SCENES 

I long for tlie rustic scenes 

Of my boyhood days, — 
Tlie rustic bridge upon wMch. I played, 

The ivy-covered porch. 
Of a large rustic house, 

Oh, rural man, who changed the scene 
about? 



THE VILLAGE SCHOOL BELL 

Hear the echo through the dell, 

Of the village school bell. 
See the little urchins trod, 

O^er the fields of barren sod. 

Winter^s cold cannot harm 

These sturdy children of the farm. 

Now they wend their way. 
O'er the hills cold and gray. 

Louder still the echo swells. 
From the village school bell, 

Keminding us of days of old. 
When to school we used to go. 

Many a tale could we tell. 
Of those happy days of yore. 

When to school we used to go. 
King on, — dear old bell! 
54 



THE LITTLE MOCKING BIRD 

Oh, little mocking bird, 
From where did you fly? 
To this old maple. 
From the azure sky, 

You daily come and sing 
Your morning lay. 
Before the sun^s rays 
Make hot the June days. 

Your visit I entreat, 

Your music, clear and sweet. 

Is delightful to hear 

O, why not stay here? 

Return before the day is o'er 
When to other trees you go. 
Remember, I welcome you 
To my cottage near the shore. 



DIVORCING THE STRAW HAT 

I hate to part from you, straw hat, 
Space is needed in our flat. 

To the dump you are consigned 
Like the former "straws" of mine. 

How it pains me to let you go ! 
I'll shut my eyes and throw 

You upon the ash pile. 
55 



THE BUSY LITTLE BEE 

How does the busy little bee 
Improve each, fleeting hour? 

By visiting throughout the day, 
Each open, fragrant flower. 



AUTUMN 

The sky is clear, trees are bare, 
Golden leaves lay o'er the field. 

Days are short and squirrels bark, 
Autumn has returned again. 



EESTLESS SEA 

Through day and night. 

In winter's cold. 
In summer's heat. 

Your restless wave 
On shores you beat. 

Your tides rise and fall. 
From East, to Western shores ; 

And commerce of this busy world, 
Sails o'er your briny deep. 

Each day your tides recede, 
Upon your bosom vessels creep. 

Forever, o'er your restless waves, 
Mariners, a vigilance keep. 

56 



BE GOOD 

Be good, be true, 

Is my wish for you. — 

Be good, whatever you do. 



LITTLE EAI:N^DR0P 

Oh ! little raindrop. 

You're life to beast and grass, 
Without your visitation, 

How long would farms last? 



WINDS 



Blow ! Ye Winds, blow I 
Your coming, no one knows. 

Throughout the vale, zephyrs trail 
Your pathway as you go. 

Blow ! Ye Winds, blow ! 

O'er vale and dale. 
Heat of day fades away. 

Where'er your zephyrs trail. 

Blow ! Ye Winds, blow ! 

AVhere you go, who knows? 
Throughout the vale, zephyrs trail 

Your pathway as you go. 

57 



FAME 

What art thou 

That most people crave? 
Thy glory sends many 

To an early grave. 

Men sacrifice their lives 
In vain, seeking to gain 

What the world 
Calls — Fame ! 



THE NORSEMEN 

In Norsemen's time, 
In the Viking age, 
On North shores. 
Bold pirates lived. 

Those Norsemen 
Of the ocean caves, 
Have long since gone 
Their destined way. 

Their treasure hidden, 
On barren isles. 
Lies mouldering away; 
While Old Boreas 
Sings a requiem o'er 
The Northern bays. 

58 



MY WISH 

May each rosy morn, 
With its crystal dew, 
Give you hope and cheer, 
Till life's labor is through. 

In stormy nights, 

While through darkness you toss, 

Keep thy little bark safe. 

Ere thy life be lost. 



LIGHT OF DAY, FADE NOT AWAY ! 

light of day. 
From my sight 
Fade not away ! 
Guide me by 

Thy guiding light. 
Through weary paths. 
Till night shall 
Bring me rest ! 
When at mom. 
In Eastern skies, 
You shine. 
May thy light 
Still guide me. 
Without thee, 

1 may stray. 
Light of day, 
Fade not away ! 

59 



TWELFTH MONTH 

The harvest, gathered from the fields, 

Lies garnered in the loft and bin. 

As the day draws to its close. 

We hear the sighing wintry wind, 

O'er the hills mournfully sing. 

Thru leafless trees and o'er fields brown, 

Our vision extends for miles around. 



KIIsTG, MERRY BELLS, RING ON 

Ring merry bells, ring on, ring on. 

Peal forth to all thy gladsome song. 
Normandy's bells, from o'er the sea. 

Peal forth their chimes, to you and me. 

Ring merry bells, ring on, ring on. 

The world's in need of thy sweet song, 
To gladden the course all must pursue. 

In hours of trial, when days are blue. 

Ring merry bells, ring on, ring on. 

My soul's enraptured with thy song, 
While voices of our old church choir. 

In unison ascend, 'neath rusty spire. 

Your chimes upon the night so clear. 
Now penetrate the deathlike air. 

In hamlet, vale and city beyond. 
Peal forth to all thy gladsome song. 
60 



CONSOLATION 

The Holy Book, with pages fair, 

Gives us hope when burdened with care. 

Some time, some day, 
Whate'er betides. 

We shall with Him abide, 
And with angels joyfully sing 

Praises to our risen King. 



BE KIND TO MOTHER 

Mother ! O how I pine, 

When I recall the day, 
I was wont to disobey 

Your wise admonition! 

If not for thee, 

where would I be? 
Though I have strayed, 

1 remember my childhood days. 

When at thy side I knelt to pray. 

Could I but return to my early days, 
When you held sway 

O'er my childish ways. 

I may not ever see thee more, 
But thy love I still adore; 

And this request I make once more, — 
Be kind to mother. 
6i 



"SIXTEEN-SIXTY-THREE" 

Tlie lovers loved each other lovingly. 

He sought to let her know he was willing 
The slip knot to hastily tie. 

She asked more time to consider her 
ardent lover's plea, 
For she was only sixteen, and he, sixty-three. 



GERMS 

A scientist worked in his laboratory small. 
Searching for germs, — it was early in the 
fall. 
A fly chanced to light on his microscope 
small, 
The scientist exclaimed, this is the great- 
est germ of all. 



THE ARROW 

I shot an arrow into the air. 

Gravitation caused it to fall I know not 
where. 
One autumn eve while strolling 

With a girl, of girlish pride, 
Lo ! to my surprise, I found the arrow, 

Imbedded by "Dan Cupid'' in her heart. 
My arrow had at last found its mark. 
62 



HONOE 

Honor, — from whence dost thou come? 

All hope to achieve thee, — parent and son. 
To attain thee, men toil through night and 
day. 
In fruitless pursuit, — ^while farther off 
you stay. 



THE WIND IS BLOWING 

The wind is blowing over the plain, 
Tossing billows of golden grain. 

The mocking-bird sings her lay, 
Men in the fields are cutting hay. 

The wind is blowing over the plain, 
Tossing billows of golden grain. 

Aspen, Daisies, and Golden Kod, 
Are nodding to the green sod. 

Yellow-winged butterflies 
Are descending from the sky. 

For the wind is blowing over the plain. 
Tossing billows of golden grain. 

The day's work soon will be done. 
Over the western hills creeps the sun, 

And the honey-bees homeward come, 
Flying low, with whirring hum. 

The wind is blowing over the plain, 
Tossing billows of golden grain. 

63 



FLEETmG DAY 

lAght of day is fading, 
From tlie cloudless sky. 

Folks from toil returning 
As the night draws nigh. 

Soon from care and sorrow, 
Of the fleeting day. 

We will rest in slumber. 
Till night fades away. 



THE OLD CHURCH SPIRE 

Oh, lofty Spire! 
To far off skies 
You ever inspire. 

Our daily desire. 

As we aspire, 
Is like our sire, 

Who worshipped beneath 

Your distant peak. 
Oh, lofty Spire ! 

To realms higher. 

Where happiness reigns, 
You ever inspire. 



64 



SMALL THINGS 

A little pain, 
A little gain, 
A little habit ; 
How much harm, 
Will it do, 
If not reformed? 



MEMORY GEMS 

I wish I were 
Your little glass 

When you drink. 
You would hold 

Me fast — 

With your soft hand. 

I wish I were 

Your little cup. 
When you drink 

You would 
Lift me up 

And kiss me 
With your lips. 



Let us think right, speak right, do 
right, — at the right time. 



65 



MABCH 

Wintry winds, 

Around the eaves play. 
Beautiful snow, 

A blanket, o'er fields lay. 



APRIL SHOWERS 

April showers, — 

Gentle rain. 
Refreshes grass and 

Growing grain. 



CEMENT 

A few gallons of water, 
With many grains of sand, 

Mixed with any good cement. 
Make homes upon the land. 



"ALPHA" 

Ye comely women. 
Ye men of worth. 
Remember the beginning,- 
Mother Earth gave you birth. 
66 



MY WISH 

May gentle zephyrs, 
Wafted from afar, 
Quicken thy pulse, 
Wherever you are. 



BEWAEE! 

Broken glass thrown 
Upon the highway, 

Makes a chauffeur 
Ugly words say. 



DUTY 



Duty is ever before us. 

We know, as time passes by. 
But lack the moral courage. 

To go where our duties lie. 



THE CHRISTIAN'S HOPE 

When this short life shall close. 
In peaceful sleep we will repose. 

To awake no more, we pray. 
Until the dawn of eternal day. 

67 



THE BABBLma beooe: 

What running stream is tMs, 

From out of tlie woods that flows? 

It is the babbling brook, 

As down through, the vale it goes, 

Kissing the grass and flowers so rare 
As it flows to the river fair. 



THE FEOLIGSOME LEAVES 

Beneath the trees, as twilight fades, 
Leaves are dancing in the shade. 

The elf of the wind is playing a tune, 

For the frolicsome leaves, this eve in 
June. 

They go forward, then backward. 

As if they're trying to hop, 
And keep still, when the noisy wind stops, 

For all are enjoying the evening hop. 

Beneath the trees, as twilight fades, 
Leaves are dancing o'er field and glade. 

The elf of the wind is playing a tune, 
For the frolicsome leaves, this eve in June. 

Here and there they now assemble. 

Awaiting the oncoming night. 
When the air becomes serene, they'll frolic 
to rest. 
And bid adieu to their Fairyland guest. 
68 



OCTOBEK DAYS 

Fruits are ripe, 

And the woods are briglit 
With, autumn leaves. 

Farmers are toiling, 
From morn 'till night, 

Binding up their sheaves. 



THE LITTLE LOG CABIIST 

The little log cabin 

For years has stood, 
A beacon in a lone wood. 

The roughly shaped sides, 
With the old gabled top. 

Can be seen from the road. 
Over the pine tree top. 

Six children in the cabin were reared, 
Three are living, three are dead. 

The sun above the cabin's top 
Shines clear and bright 

On this picturesque spot. 
The old maple leaf trees. 

Far above the eaves, wave 
In unison with zephyrs 

That over the fields play. 
Years may come and years go. 

But the joys of my early days 
Spent in the little log cabin. 

Will never fade away. 

69 



REFRESHING DEW 

When the morning's refreshing dew 

Kisses the grass and flowers beneath the 
azure sky, 
Flowers brighten and the grass lifts up its 
blades, 
As the refreshing dew falls on earth and 
glades. 

This early visitor can for a short time tarry, 

For the ascending sun, with rays of heat, 

Melts the dew on grass and flowers sweet. 

After a visit from refreshing dew. 

Grass and flowers shed forth their bright- 
est hue. 

And with the power of the sun's warm ray, 
They sprout and grow throughout the day. 



THE LARK 

A lark once sang at break of day, 

In an apple tree, a joyous lay. 
A farmer near, with his eyes up-cast. 

Heard the song as the lark flew past. 
But at last the sweet song ceased, 

As the sun shone in the East ; 
For her heart had failed to beat. 

And beneath the tree she lay at his feet. 



70 



UNCLE BOB'S LUCK 

Little fishes in the brook, 

Swimming near to Uncle's hook, 
Uncle Bob is in a doze, 

Which the tiny brook trout knows. 

A ripple Uncle Bobby sees ! 

A fish from off his line he frees ! 
To his delight, a trout he's caught, — 

His half day's catch — a nickle could 
have bought. 



WILLIE'S EXCUSE • 

I do not want to go to school, 

I have a slate, but not a rule. 
While my companions run and play, 

I am shut in school all day. 
I do not want to go to school. 

Where I must mind my teacher's rule. 
To play truant, I know, is bad. 

This I'd do, if it wer'n't for dad. 
While my chums next door may play, 

I, to school must go to-day. 
I hope that when I am a man, 

I'll play in the village band. 
Then I'll play and play away. 

To make up for this time to-day. 

* Courtesy of the Burlington Free Press. 



71 



THY FACE,— BEAUTIFUL 

In vain, I seek thy face to know, 

Beneath, thy turban wealth of hair 
grows. 

O, Grecian head, O, stately bust, 
Were you made to turn to dust? 



SOMEWHERE YOU ARE 
{The Departed) 

Beyond the sky, where stars illumine, 

Somewhere you are. 
On this planet is thy tomb, 

Somewhere you are. 

Distant worlds and distant suns, 

Around this planet 
Their course do run. 

In that great unknown. 

Somewhere you are. 

When upon earth, your life 

Was severed from toil and strife. 

Your soul then began its flight. 
Somewhere you are. 

Your labors upon earth are done. 

Your soul has vanished beyond the sun. 

You will be missed, beloved one ; 
Somewhere you are. 

72 



WHEN REST COMES AT CLOSE 
OF DAY 

From arduous duties of day's toil, 
When rest comes at close of day, 

Quitely upon your couch, you lay, 
Recalling trials of tlie closing day. 

Dreamland elfs their game play. 
When rest comes at close of day. 

Castles that you're prone to build. 
Loom boldly through the hazy air. 

While ghostly shades of coming night, 
Like ghosts creep upon the stairs, 

Flitting about in prankish way. 
When rest comes at close of day. 

How thankful for this restful time. 
When one can enjoy needed rest 

From arduous duties of day's toil. 

Like brave soldiers from battles' quest. 

Burdens of life vanish far away. 
When rest comes at close of day. 



WHEN MORN MEETS NIGHT 

When rosy morn meets Night in the East, 
And greets her with a kiss on the cheek, 
Night blushes, disrobes and 
Scatters her dark veil far away. 
And welcomes morn, the Queen of Day. 
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THE HAUGHTY FLOWER 

A daisy to a blade of grass 
Said, "Far above, I tower ! 

My head is Mgli and nodding ; 
I am a pretty flower." 

Tbe grass said, "You, I do admire ! 

While I have but one hue, 
Yet, without my brothers green, 

What would the farmers do?" 



VIOLETS 

In the green, shady dell, 
Sweet violets dwell. 

These modest flowers of purple hue, 
Grow in the dells, hidden from view. 

Their sweet incense fills the air. 
As they thrive and bloom with Nature' 
care. 

Oh, modest violets you are content 
To live and bloom, to diffuse your scent 

Upon wild flowers, grass and weeds. 
Far away from strife, and live at ease. 



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ELYSIAN FIELD 

Oh, where is that land of rest, 
Elysian fields, where dwell the blest ! 

This mortal world of endless grief 
Gives not the happiness we seek. 

Where, oh where, is endless rest ; 

Elysian fields, where dwell the blest! 

As fleeting moments bid us part, 

When earthly ills our lives do end, 
May we soar unto that land of rest, 

Elysian fields, where dwell the blest ! 
Toil on, toil on. Oh man of clay ! 

Until the dawn of perfect day. 

Then at last, — may you find rest, 

In Elysian fields, where dwell the blest. 



THE GOLDEN FLOWER 

O, pretty flower of golden hue, 
I know what with you I'll do ! 

You cover the field, acres wide. 
And grow upon the hill side. 

Children call you golden rod. 
And every fall you deck the sod. 

I like your pretty golden hue, 

You must adorn my playhouse too. 



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SHADOWS 

Soft the shades of evening fall. 

Shadows come and shadows go. 
See the shadows on the wall ! 

As they're flitting to and fro, 
So do fleeting hours . 

While we sit in solitude, 
In our rosy bowers, 

We see shadows come and go 
O'er the garden flowers. 



WINTKY WINDS 

Bright the old fire glows ! 
As the wintry wind blows, 
You see the flying sparks, 
As smoke up the chimney darts. 

Wintry winds outside play 
Around my eaves, this wintry day. 
At night, they'll lull to rest 
The weary soul to a land of bliss. 

The burdened mind will, in repose. 
Forget the world of toil and woes ; 
And to Elysian Fields will stray. 
Or to the haunts of a better day. 



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ADMONITION 

Why sit, why squirm 
Like the little dusty worm. 
To loiter is a bad estate, 
Do not tarry ere it's too late 
To reach the Pearly Gate. 



THE SOUL 

Soul of this life. 

From where did you come ! 
Out of what unknown clime, 

Into this body of mine! 

Soul of this life. 
Oh, where do you go. 

When you take your flight. 
From this earthly shore ! 



THE TEST. 

Many a sorrow here below, 
Gives us faith to journey on, 
Many a hardship undergone, 
Makes both soul and body strong. 



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DEATH 

Unwelcomed visitor, — 

Why come to our frame? 
Kob it, of its brightest name, — 

While angels tarry in disguise, 
To guide a loved one to the skies? 

Thou, greatest of mysteries, 
Tell me the truth — 

And console a weary youth ! 



HOPE 

Thou, ever present are to me dear, 
O ! tarry with me throu the year ! 

Without thee, I dare not live ; 

With thee, what are trials to me? 

I need thee 'till I reach eternity. 



SLEEP 



Mystic Sleep thy visit I entreat ! 

Oh, come and waft me to that quiet 
state. 
Where I'll find rest, 'till I awake ! 
Mystic Sleep, why tarry away? 
Oh, come and waft me to that land of rest, 
Where sweet dreams my coming await ! 
Oh, Mystic Sleep, thy coming haste ! 
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PARTING 

When you and I must forever part, 

And from tMs sphere for all time you go, 

I will not forget, down in my heart. 
The reason why I love you so. 



YOU WILL EEMEMBER ME 

Your love for me is not of yore, 
You are always cross and sore. 

When I am gone to return no more, 
You will remember me. 

The old songs of love, you sing to me no 
more. 
You may be happy some day again, when 
I have left this shore. 
When my face you can not again see. 
You will remember me. 

When my lips you once loved to press. 
And greet with a loving caress. 

Are far away on the deep blue sea. 
You will remember me. 

When my soul has soared to that echoless 
shore, 
To realms beyond, to return no more, 
Then you will miss me and I know 
You will remember me. 
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LAME:isrTATION. 

Give me back those days of toil, 
When my youthful life was spent, 
Upon the soil I loved to till. 

Those happy days of my life are o'er, 
I'm battling now on life's rugged shore, 
'Gainst my forlorn will. 

The years are quickly passing o'er 
My aged head, now white as snow. 
And my limbs are getting sore. 

Time, the warden of our fate. 
Is halting my once agile gait, 
I'm a youth no more. 

While I repine, my life decline. 

My eyes once alert look down to earth, 

And ^^Father Time" will some day come. 

To summon me to other shores, 
Where I'll not yearn for days of yore, 
But rest from cares for ever more. 



THE END 



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